NORTHWICH Victoria’s course to the FA Cup’s third round was curtailed by opponents who were more clinical in front of goal.

Lightening – and giantkilling it seems – rarely strikes twice in the same place.

“I’m proud,” said manager Andy Preece after the final whistle.

“That’s because we were the better team. I felt we had the lion’s share of possession and created far more chances than they did.

“However we didn’t take them.”

Those last words ring true, for emotions at Vics’ exit was not without a tinge of regret.

Northwich, buoyed by beating Charlton Athletic in the last round, were expected by some to copy the trick in the same style against Chris Sutton’s men.

Their start suggested a repeat.

Birthday boy Jon Newby had two sights of goal; first an instinctive prod that lacked power enough to trouble keeper Rob Burch after Simon Grand had flicked on Ian Herring’s long throw, then a shot that flashed past the far post after he had sprinted on to Lee Elam’s header.

Michael Connor’s clever scooped pass landed in Grand’s path on 12 minutes, but he stretched to shoot and failed to make a clean contact.

Lincoln, against the run of play, scored from their first attack.

Captain Scot Kerr – the Imps’ outstanding performer – lifted a pass back over the hosts’ defence after they had only partially cleared a set piece.

Chris Fagan reacted quickest, sending a cute volley past Curtis Asdpen.

Elam dragged a shot wide from the edge of the penalty area, while at the other end Khano Smith fluffed a free header from Fagan’s teasing cross.

Vics started the second half with a storm.

A sweeping cross from Jon D’Laryea was nodded towards the back post by Newby to Mat Bailey, who pivoted smoothly before rifling an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net.

The crowd’s reaction could have given Lincoln the shivers, but instead they replied by scoring themselves little more than a minute later.

Jamie Clarke wriggled past Bailey to race onto Kerr’s pass, scuffing a weak shot with enough accuracy to creep past Aspden.

It was not a goal to lose a cup tie to.

So Clarke repeated his trick, this time in emphatic fashion, when Kerr split the defence once more on 69 minutes.

The hosts, bolstered by the introduction of goal-hero Wayne Riley and fit-again Junior Brown, struggled to muster a response, although Grand twice went close to re-opening the contest with efforts in the final five minutes.

He swapped passes with Newby before lifting his shot too high, then met Riley’s flag kick with a header that did not trouble Burch.

In between Connor caught a glimpse of goal from D’Laryea’s fine pass, but Smith was swift to snuff out the danger.

Vics Aspden (GK), Aspin, Bailey, Grand, Ryan Brown, Connor, Herring (Riley 71), D’Laryea, Elam (Junior Brown 72), Allan (Nat Kerr 79), Newby
Subs not used Spencer (GK), Horrocks, Winter, Edwards
Goal Bailey 47

Lincoln Burch (GK), Hughton, Watts, Kovacs, Heath, Herd, Shane Clarke, Scott Kerr, Smith, Fagan (Gilmour 78), Jamie Clarke (Howe 85)
Subs not used Musselwhite (GK), Butcher, Hone, Swaibu, Green
Goal Fagan 18, Jamie Clarke 49, 64
Booked Herd, Smith (both fouls)

Referee Colin Webster (Tyne and Wear)
Attendance 3,544